With the release of New Roman Times, Camper Van Beethoven is back and
more political than ever. After an extended hiatus, the group that once
gave us fun fluff like “Take the Skinheads Bowling” is now taking on
the complexities of international wars with its borderless music. Back
in the ‘80s, CVB’s singer/songwriter David Lowery was better known for
his eclectically wide-ranging music (which incorporated everything from
ska to punk to world music), than for any kind of a social conscience.
But these “new Roman times” of his appear to require a brand new
approach.

This is a concept album (or so one suspects) that touches upon multiple
concepts within its framework. For instance, “White Fluffy Clouds” is a
love song to a bomber plane, certainly not one of the more
oversaturated subject matters in music today. Elsewhere, “I Am Talking
to This Flower” explains how one man’s boredom led to his heroin
addiction. The Bob Dylan-like folk ballad called “Civil Disobedience”
suggests that Lowery is in an antiwar mode here, but he also doesn’t
exactly spell out this position in other places. He seems to be
pointing his finger without naming names.

Thankfully, Camper Van Beethoven hasn’t completely traded in its
musical exploration for pure (and dry) political discourse. Its
instrumental reach includes the traditionally Mexican-sounding “Los
Tigres Traficantes,” the hoedown country of “Militia Song” and the
gypsy vibe of “Might Makes Right.” The group’s ignorance of stylistic
boundaries – a laudable trait, by the way – is equally apparent during
many of this album’s frequent instrumentals. “Discotheque CVB” is
exactly what its title suggests, which is a beautifully retro ‘70s
disco slice. “R ‘N R Uzbekistan,” on the other hand, is a fast-paced
world music exercise.

In some instances, CVB sounds like a straightforward Americana outfit,
with a strong tip of the hat to The Band. This vibe is sensed in the
chugging folk of “Hey Brother” and also during the country-rock of “The
Long Plastic Hallway.” But if you’re seeking something that is like a
chip off the old CVB/Cracker block, the electric guitar strum of “51-7”
fits this bill nicely, as does the bouncy beat of “Hippy Chix.” “Hippy
Chix,” in fact, is the closest thing to that devil-may-care CVB humor
we’ve grown to know and love.

Politics and pop music are getting to know one another again, after a
long separation, and New Roman Times is simply filled to the brim with
headline-inspired lyrics. While it’s sometimes difficult to completely
comprehend David Lowery’s ultimate destination here, he’s nevertheless
a fascinating storyteller, so most attentive listeners will just ride
along with him willingly. But if foreign policy and campaign talk is
starting to get old fast for you, you can always just lose yourself in
Camper Van Beethoven’s undeniable musicality instead. Attaining world
peace is a lot more complicated than just taking the skinheads bowling,
it’s true. And maybe if this troublesome world settles down a little
bit, Lowery and friends may once again get back to focusing on tickling
our funny bones. But at least for now, these New Roman Times are
certainly a-changin’ him.